SAMPO SWIVELS

About us

COMPANY HISTORY

Rome Specialty Company, Inc. is the parent company of the ROSCO Terminal Tackle, Sampo Swivels & Donnmar brands. These three iconic brands are proudly MADE IN AMERICA. Our customers have come to expect the highest quality products, prompt delivery, and excellent customer service for almost 100 years!

TIMELINE

1926: John Howard Butts and his two partners, Ernest E. Spriggs and Harrold Hayes, acquire the Van Dauber Company, a manufacturer of box fishing swivels, reels, and landing nets, and incorporate the company in New York under the name Rome Specialty Company, Inc.

1933: Rome Specialty Company acquires the Knight Archery Company, a Rome, New York manufacturer of bows and arrows.

1945: After the passing of the company’s three original owners within months of eachother, leadership is passed to the second generation of owners; Jerald L. Butts (Jerry) and John Spriggs (Jack).

1951: Rome Specialty Company acquires the Pix Manufacturing Company, a Newark, New Jersey wire-forming firm that made twisted barrel swivels.

1954: Sampo Manufacturing Company, Inc. is founded in Redwood City, California by Oney A. Johnson. The company is known for its original patented (U.S. 2466243) ball bearing swivels made in its California and Puerto Rico factories.

1957: Rome Specialty Company, Inc. purchases the Sampo Manufacturing Company, Inc. and moves all operations to its facilities in Barneveld and Forestport New York.

1980: Jack Spriggs retires and sells his interest in the Rome Specialty Company, Inc. to his partner Jerry Butts, making Jerry the sole owner. Jerry’s two sons, Brian and John, both serve as Vice Presidents within the company. John focuses on the operations of the Rome plant and Brian oversees the Sampo Division in Barneveld and Forestport.

1984: Jerry Butts passes away and ownership of the company is passed to his sons, Brian and John, solidifying the third generation of leadership.

1997: The brothers split Rome Specialty Company, Inc. into two separate companies. John becomes the owner of the ROSCO Division in Rome, New York, keeping the name Rome Specialty Company, Inc. Brian becomes the owner of the Sampo division, renamed Sampo, Inc., and maintains its presence in Barneveld and Forestport.

1998: Rome Specialty Company, Inc. purchases the original snap machines and tooling from Berkley Fishing to produce the McMahon Snap, now known as the McRosco Snap.

2014: John H. Butts III (Jack) takes over as President and CEO of Rome Specialty Company, serving as the company’s fourth generation of family leadership and current owner.

2016: Brian sells Sampo, Inc. to his nephew Jack. Today under the leadership of Jack Butts all three brands, ROSCO, Sampo, and Donnmar, operate under the parent company Rome Specialty Company, Inc. in Rome, New York.

Present: Rome Specialty Company, Inc. continues to manufacture high quality fishing tackle in the United States and is considered the best in class across the industry.